Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-02-24
CHAPTER XVII

John Earring did not 90 to the old
lawyers house SO very many umos aft
er that ere the epoch Of his admittance
to the bar came on. Like most earn
| est Americans, he kept 30 live an eve
upon his time that he would not even
permit the rosy mouth Of pleasure to
drink away from him any apprcciablc
quantity Of that very Elusive cssepce.
That time was something more than
money 10 him, as 10 thousands more
even in this tecming Wcst-extrava-
giant rs the statement may appear
seemed true; for with scarcely o
thought for wealth. he was pressing
forward 10 the field OF deeds with q
heart only eager to achieve. Doubtless
fame, position, applause, approval, or
some shadow Of these, lay ut tho bot
tom Of bis ambition, how little so
ever they may have pricked him into
a consciousness Of their presence. as
indeed few Of us 20 forward to ans
commcndablc thing save these in sUmu
sense have their hands against thc
back Of our inclination pushing Us
into action. But money had not
prompted him thus far; neither did II
afterwards upon It's own account.
though like us all-he came eyentu-
ally 10 feel that il its golden fingers
did not grasp happiness itself they at
least encOmpassed no end Of privilege
and opportunity for cnjoymcat and
doing good. Another fact, also, OF
which he had already gathered Gn ink
ling, at length came fully into lis con
sciousness, the fact so human. that
there are few helpers 10 any eousum-
nation more potent than dollars, OF
yet Of more silYery or more grateful
voice than they when honestly earned.
Sometimes il had crossed his mind,
too, that the achievement Of wealth
was rather ignoble anyway. since IN
any case il could be considered, in any
light looked at, or through whatever
avenue acquired, IL sin was selfish
thingi il sti.l was taking from other.
and apprJpriaiing - ones own pleas-
urei and II, after half q lifetime of sur.
felt, or TO uu'Oad q part Of what had
come TO be burden. or 10 get name,
as often happens, one should make s
splash Of il about the ears o.
humanity, raising great shout o.
praise and clapping Of tongues, Il wer
sliil hardly "a thing emitting one TO
saint hip, since. in ncst cases, Il weri |
simply feat Of taking through ncces.
sity, ill-luck or misfortune from th |
many and giving il 10 the few, when
one had got to- much Of IL. Besides, !
he sometimes questioned T. in the yer, |
soul Of truth any man ever actually |
owned more than ho earned, or should |
keep from his fellows more than would |
serve and fill the purposes OF around
and rightcousmanhood
Doubtless he was very impractical.
immature and sofl-thoughted. with |
IDEAS not get enough tramped upon h.
laye gotten hard shells upon their
packs, with hard hearts in them, az
with most Of rs; but something was
wrong with tho world to John Earling
! thing, indeed, tho blind can even sec.
tycrywhors the many seemed driD.
ling salty sweat for the few; down In
he valleys the millions seemed always
oiing among the shadows that thr
might live above them on
he sunny heights; and perhaps, after
III, II the human sum were iisIred on,
u blood upon the white force Of
Truth, It might be foun that inf
'oung man IN his sVitness came yer,
rear ihe fact
fqa an, fag.-ar..-......